Köln return to winning ways

Cologne - League leaders 1. FC Köln maintained their four-point cushion at the top of the 2. Bundesliga standings after securing a 2-0 win over promotion-hopefuls Karlsruher SC.

With the visitors predominantly concentrating on keeping things tight at the back, goalscoring chances were at a premium during the first half, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Billy Goats taking the lead. Patrick Helmes managed to bring Adam Matuszczyk’s cross under his spell before slipping the ball into the path of Miso Brecko, who slotted home shortly before the half-hour mark. Karlsruher were offering little in terms of attacking threat and fell further behind less than 30 minutes later when Daniel Halfar caught Jan Mauersberger in possession to square for Helmes to tap into an empty net, wrapping up the win for the hosts.